Judge Julius C. McCeney

 

Judge Julius C. McCeney is a Baltimorean by birth, and there he began his education and business experience.  He comes of an old Maryland family of English descent.  When his people first crossed the ocean is not now known, but it was long before Revolutionary times.  His name is about as uncommon a one as we know of, there being but two separate lines, and even they are distantly related.  His people generally were planters, and located for a long period in Anne Aruudel county.  His father was a merchant in Baltimore, however, where he went when quite young.  His uncle, Dr. Edward McCeney, was a classmate of Dr. Hitchcock, the pioneer here.  Judge McCeney’s father died when he was quite a child, and he went to his aunt’s in consequence, where his education was continued by a private tutor.  This was in the interior, and there he remained till he was about fourteen when returned to Baltimore and engaged in mercantile business.  He had been so engaged for but a brief period when the news of the gold discovery here was carried East, and he took passage in Baltimore in January 1849, on the Jane Parker, and arrived here July 21 following.

 

He engaged with the house of Dall & Austin a $300 a month, and was with them up to 1851 employed. When he was taken into partnership, the title then changing to Dall, Austin & Co. This house did a very fine business as shipping and commission merchants.  It acted for the Laurences for the Bay States, Middlesex and other noted Eastern names.  It was located about where was then the center of business operations.  The house built the wharf to Sansome street, and erected good buildings for that time.  Twice was it burned out in the great fires of May, 1850 and 1851, lost considerable, for then there was no insurance; but this was but a slight stay in its progress.  Dall, Austin & Co. continued until 1853, when the firm was dissolved, Judge McCeney desiring to go East.  Each had then an ample fortune and considerable real estate here.  The fact that they progressed so rapidily in such a short time sliows great business enterprise even for that period.  It must be remembered that Judge McCeney was then quite young, too, which gives us some idea as to his spirit and character and the strong will-power he was possessed of in his early years.  He went East to complete his education and entered Harvard College.  He studied there some four years, graduating in the law department also, after which he returned and began a general practice here, which has continued down to the present.  He has had charge of many important cases in these years, and his advocacy has been of great benefit to his clients.

 

His practice has been both civil and criminal.  It is now in the main probate, real-estate, corporate, etc.  He has always been conservative in law, however, and has never sought of desired publicity.  He is adverse to display of any kind, and prefers infinitely to go on in the even tenor of his way.  His practice is a good one, and this is evidence of his ability as a lawyer.  He is a logical, forcible, easy speaker in court, and as he thoroughly prepares a case he is master of it.

 

Judge McCeney has been East several times and traveled extensively on this coast.  To his law business he devotes all his time.  He is not a member of any clubs or societies, neither has he any hobby.  With the past of this city and of our leading men from then down he is very familiar, and his conversion is both interesting and instructive.  Judge McCeney is essentially a Californian in the truest meaning, genial, whole-souled and courteous.